Tube filling means



Dec. 7,` 1943. M. HALLEAD ETAL TUBE FILLING MEANS Filed Nov. y11, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1943. M. HALLEAD vE-r AL. 2,336,355

Y w TUBE FILLING MEANS Filed Nov; 1 1, 1957 4 sheets-sheet 2 y Nrw O l s QW QN.. R Y M. r. m a m w Q Q O m @o ooooooo *@o o Se mm m o HH. o O s MN s O o MR 6 mw ww NQ wu, e w L J/ n mm Q O H C H A@ .m E mm 0 a `v` mi Y t o: B Q2 o o E m" Q U nk 3 .3. n l `m .QE .3. I. wmv .K r run., s N au, n m mmmv o N` O Dec. 7, 1943. M HALLEAD Erm. y"2,.136355 TUBE FILLING MEANS r 1,111,111,111 111111111111 'fr' NVENTORS.

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ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 7, 1943.

M. HALLEAD E-rAl. 2,336,355

TUBE FILLING MEANS Filed Novfll, 1957 4 lSheets-Sheet 4 35 Mvonuivs.

Patented Dec. 7, 1943 UNlTED STTES lWENT OFFICE TUBE FKLLING MEANS of Ohio ApplicationNovember 11, 1937, Serial No. 174,079

7 Claims.

Our invention relates to the lling and sealing of the collapsible tubes of commerce, particularly where the tubes are sealed by interfusion of the tube Walls, rIhis case is relatedto the application of Fechheimer 710,824, liled February 12, 1934, which has now matured into Patent No. 2,102,840, dated December 21, 1937, and to the application of Hallead, 88,135, led June 30, 1936, and to the application of Fechheimer and Haller-id, 88,186, led June 30', 1936, and is a continuation in part of the last mentioned case.

The objects of the present invention comprise the provision of a novel lling apparatus in which the tubes are acted upon by a iilling device, a spreading device, a shearing device, .a welding device, and a folding device, or a combination of these devices in succession, and also comprise specific inventions and improvements in novel gauging means, and means whereby diiierent quantities of material may be fed at the same or different rates of speed.

These objects, and more specifi-c ones which will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, We accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which we shall now described an eX- emplary embodiment. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure l is a front elevational View of an exemplary form of our machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View with parts in section.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section of a portion of the main drive mechanism and a Geneva movement for the conveyor. 1t is taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the machine taken along the line 5 5` of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is another vertical section taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 5. Y

Figure 7 is a sectional ViewV of valve operating mechanism taken along the line 7 7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a view of a gearing arrangement used in connection with the lling mechanism. It is taken along the line 8 8 in Figure 3.

Figure 9 is an elevational View with parts in section of gauging means for the speeds and quantity of lling.

Figure 10 shows in section a motion mechanism used in connection with the gauge, and is a view taken along the line l9 i9 of Figure 9.

Figure l1 shows in perspective a stud used in connection with the mechanismV of Figure 10.

Figure 12# shows a drive feature, taken along the line |2 l2 of Figure 3.

Figure 13 is a cam feed mechanism employed in connection with the ller apparatus, and is a view taken along the line iii-I3 of Figure 3;,

The general as well as the specific organization of our apparatus willV be apparent from the ensuing description. In Figures 1 and 2 We show an exemplary form of our structure having a body I comprising a suitable framework 'and housing members, the specic form of which may be varied to suit requirements. A conveyQr for collapsible tubes is located in a hQusing 2, and will be the subject of particular description hereinaiter. The conveyor bears holders 3 for the collapsible tubes, which may be loaded into the holders by hand or otherwise.V The cap endsv of the collapsible tubes ill willbe placed into the holders so that the tubes are inverted with their initially open bottom ends upward. Means are provided in connectionwith the conveyor for moving the tubes upwardly for illing and also for ultimate delivery in a sealed condition. The tubes, as shown in Figure l move in step-,by-step manner from left to right.

'In this path of travel they iirst come beneath a nozzle I3 whence a blast of dry gas is directed downwardly into the open bottoms of the tubes. This dislodges and carries away foreign particles such as cardboard fragments or other bits of packing materials which may be in the tubes. The nozzle i3 is connected to a suitable source of pressure (not shown). The blast may be left on at all times, or if desired a valve may automatically be operated by the conveyor or other suitable means. l

Next each tube comes under a filling spout i6, and is elevated so thatV the spout extends into the open bottom end o the tube. This is advisable to prevent the filler material from contacting the end portionsof the bottom walls of the tube, where it might interfere With sealing. The spout l5 is connected toa ,head Il having feeding and -valve mechanism hereinafter to be described; and a measured quantity of the liller material is automatically/fled into the tube at a predetermined rate or rates. The-filler material comes from a hopper i8, into which it s'introduced in bulk. An agitating device i9 mounted upon a spider 2l is driven by a motor23 and acts to keep the material down in the. hopper; l f

The tube next comes beneath a spreader 2.4' :by

the action of which the bottomof the tubefisl flared or spread, and partially flattened. t

Next it comes beneath a .combined clamp` and tight engagement and shears these walls off accurately at a height appropriate for sealing.

' Shearing the tube ends is a precautionary measure having its importance in the subsequent welding. In all instances shearing is not necessary, and our invention includes machines in which the shearing device may be omitted.

26 indicates a sealing or welding head where the sheared ends of the tubes are fused together with the formation of a bead to effect a complete seal.

At 21, we have indicated a device for folding over the sealed bottom of the tube. This is largely for appearance, and where considerations of economy dictate may be dispensed with.

At a station marked 28, thelled and sealed tubes are displaced upwardly from the holders. They come against a deflector 39, which causes them to fall upon a chute 32 by which they are delivered to a suitable receiver.

Driving mechanism A main drive motor 33 is shown slidably mounted upon a pair of vertical rods 34 on the main frame. The mounting means are also threaded and engage a threaded shaft 35 connected by suitable gears 36 to a shaft 31 brought out to a hand wheel 39 on the front of the main housing. By turning this hand` wheel the motor may be raised or lowered upon the rods 34.

The motor shaft carries pulley means 4B, which, in the embodiment shown, may be considered as a pair of conica1 pulley elements facing each other, and spring pressed toward each other. This is a known type of change-speed mechanism, whereby a change of speed may be effected by movement of the motor. The change-speed pulley 40 is connected by means of a belt 4l to the main drive pulley 42 of the machine.

The main drive pulley 42 is connected by suitable gearing with a vertical shaft 43, which in turn, is connected by bevel gearing 44 to a horizontal shaft 45 in the upper part of the machine. This shaft again, is connected by gears 46 to another horizontal shaft 41. The shafts 45 and 41 operate the various instrumentalities which have been described above, excepting the conveyor.

For the conveyor, there is a Geneva movement indicated generally at 48 and contained in a housing 49. A vertical shaft 59 connects the Geneva movement with the conveyor at one end thereof. It likewise is housed in intertting tubu- -lar members I and 52. The reason for this construction is to maintain a completely housed condition, even though the conveyor may be raised and lowered to accommodate collapsible tubes of different lengths. To this end also, the shaft 50 is splined as shown at its lower end in Figure 2 and is slidable in the Geneva movement mechanism. Y

The conveyor, its housing, and the several appurtenant parts are mounted upon brackets at each end, one of which is shown at 53 in Figure 2. These are threaded upon vertical threaded shafts at each end of the machine, one of which is shown at 54. The threaded shafts are connected by bevel gearing 55 with a horizontal shaft 56, which is brought out through the housing at one end of the machine and is provided with a hand wheel 51. By means of this hand wheel, the conveyor may be raised or lowered for the purpose aforesaid.

All gears and shafts will be understood without special description as having suitable mountings, brackets, journals, and the like.

A speed indicator 58 may be provided, if desired, upon the front of the machine.

Conveyor and attendant parts The conveyor` as best shown in Figure 3 comprises a chain 59 running over sprockets 69 and bearing members 6| having sockets E2 for the tube holders. Suitable supports for the conveyor will be provided as will be readily understood. The conveyor is also shown in vertical section in Figure 5. The tube holders 3 are also illustrated in section in Figures 5 and 6. They comprise a tapered neck portion 63 adapted to the sockets 62. They are perforated from end to end, and the upper portion is provided with a cup shaped socket to receive the capped end of the collapsible tube.

For raising the tube, as is done beneath the cleaning blast nozzle I3 and the lling nozzle l5, means are provided to pass through the members 6| of the conveyor and engage and raise the tube holders 3. These means comprise rods 64 and E5 threaded into plungers 66 and 61 which in turn fit into and are guided in cylinders 63 and 69. The rods 64 and 65 bear means for engaging and raising the tube holders 3.

In at least that raising and lowering device which underlies the filling spout I6, the rod 55 and plunger 51 are hollow and communicate with the hollow interior of the cylinder 6B. This is connected by tubing 8S with a diaphragm device indicated generally at 81 in Figure 5, and also through a T connector 88 and a conduit 89 with a vacuum pump (not shown). The diaphragm device will be described more in detail hereinafter; and it will be explained that it controls a portion of the lling mechanism. The purposeof this construction is to provide a safety means in connection with our machine. When in Figure 5, the rod 65 is upraised, carrying the tube I l up into filling position, its end makes contact with the tube holder 3. So long as a capped tube is in the tube holder, the orifice of the rod 65 will be effectively closed 01T. Thus a vacuum will be pulled on the diaphragm device 81, allowing a charge of filler material to be delivered to the tube Il. If, however, no tube is present in the holder 3, or ii' the tube in the holder happens to be without a cap, the diaphragm device 81 will remain unaffected, and no charge of filler material will be delivered. The mechanism for performing this operation in connection with the diaphragm device will be described hereinafter.

While we have indicated that a vacuum pump is preferably employed; it is not beyond the scope of our invention to cause the apparatus disclosed to pull its own vacuum. Thus when the plunger 61 has a close sliding t in the cylinder`69, or is provided with rings or the like, it is evident that the raising of the plunger in the cylinder will tend to lower the pressure in the system which we have described, and the apparatus may be so adjusted that this lowering of pressure will operate the diaphragm device.

Also it will be evident that the safety features described are applicable to other types of filling devices than the one of our specific exemplary disclosure.

The conduit 85 may be looped or coiled, as shown, to permit raising and lowering of the conveyor. l

vReferring to Figure 4, the details of a Geneva movement for the step-by-step advance of the conveyor will be understood. The main drive pulley 42 is fixed on a shaft 90 bearing a worm 9|. This engages a worm wheel 9-2 on the Vertical shaft 43. A gear 93, also fixedon this shaft, meshes with a gear 94, which is thedriving member for the Geneva movement, andl carries the driving pin 95.

In the ordinary Geneva movement, the driven member carries a minimum-'of four radial slots. Since the axis of the driving member` must lie at the coincidence points of lines dra-wn perpendicular to the slots, which lines are also tangential to the circumference line of the driven member (the slots being'radial) the maximum pitch diameter of the driving member cannot exceed the diameter of thedriven member. Thus in a conventional four-slot Geneva movement the angle of the tangent lines is 90, andthe driving action of the driving member is effective over 90S of its rotation, the dwell occupying an angle of 270. Thus the ratio of driving time` to dwell is 1:3.

In our apparatus it is desirable to cut down the relative duration of the driving time and to provide for a longer dwell. In doing this it is advantageous to provide for relatively slow acceleration and rapid deceleration. We accomplish these objects by a construction such as that shown in Figure 4, wherein the slots 01 in the driven or maltese cross member 96 are not radial but lie at a different angle. Thus, if the slot into which the driving pin 95 is about to enter lies at an angle of 30 to a line a-a, normal to a line b-b drawn between the axes of the driving and driven members, a much larger driving member may be used, and the driving angle considerably cut down. With the particular angularity noted (which is exemplary only), the driving angle becomes 60 and the dwell angle 300. This gives a ratio of driving time to dwell of 1:5. Other angularities may be used with correspond'- ing variations of drive to dwell. The driving pin enters the slot more nearly in the direction of its length giving a slow acceleration and a rapid deceleration.

Filling mechanism The nature of the lling mechanism may be seen in Figures 5 and 6. The lling head |1v is in the form of an elongated casing in which a hollow sleeve valve member 98 is rotatably but not slidably mounted. This sleeve valve has certain openings 99, |00 and |0|. When the valve is in the position shown in Figure 6 the opening 0S is in communication with the opening of the hopper I3. The other openings are closed off. Material from the hopper can now be drawn into the interior of the sleeve valve.

If the valve is now rotated clockwise until the opening |00 comes into communication with the ller spout I6, it will be seen that the opening 00 will be closed off, and the interior of the valve will no longer be in communication with the hopper |B. Thus, material may be forced from the sleeve valve 98 and through the ller spout I0. At the same time, the opening |0| in the sleeve` valve 98 comes into communication with a relief valve |02 which functions if there should be an obstruction in the mechanism.

The means for drawing iiller material from the hopper I8 into the interior of the sleeve valve 98 and forcing it out again, is a plunger |03 operating within the sleeve valve. The means for operating the plunger will be described here inafter.

As shown most clearly in Figure 7, theV sleeve valve 98, in one part of its length, has teeth |04 cut in it. A rack |05 meshes with these teeth and is the immediate agencyby which the sleeve valve is rotated. The rack bears a pin |00v lying in a cam groove |01 in a cam |08 on the shaft 45. By these means the rack |05 may be moved back and forth. Since each rocking movement of the sleeve valve 08 represents the filling of a tube, an arm |00 may be attached to the rack |05 and caused to actuate a counter ||0 (see also Figures 1 and 3), also time-study and recording apparatus may be attached at thisl point.

The cam |00 is not, however, iiXcd on the shaft 45, but is rotatably mounted thereon. A dog is fixed on the shaft 45; and a latch means is pivoted on the cam. This latch means has a latch |12 normally heldin engagement with the dog by spring means H4, its movement in the latching direction being limited by an adjustable stop 3. Another adjustable stop ||51r limits its movement in the other direction. Thus the dog can rotate the cam unless something releases the latch. This construction is shown in Figure 5.

The diaphragm device 81, referred to above, has its diaphragm connected to a lever ||6, pivoted at ||1 and having an arm H8 normally lying in the pathv of a trigger arm ||0 on the latch means which is pivoted to the cam |00. Unless the diaphragm is actuated by vacuum in the line 0S, this lever trips the latch means so that the cam does not rotate far enough to move the sleeve valve 98. It has been explained above how the lack of a tube in the holder 3 prevents the formation of a vacuum and the actuation of the diaphragm. Under these circumstances the sleeve valve 98 remains with its port 00 in communication with the hopper I0, and such Iiller material as is withdrawn from the hopper during the outstroke of the plunger |03 is returned to the hopper on its instroke. When, however, a tube is in the holder 3, the vacuum actuates the diaphragm to pull the lever means ||0| i0 out of the way, and the cam |08 is rotated by the dog so as to bring the sleeve valve port |00 into communication with the ller spout i0 during the instroke of the plunger |03.

The sleeve valve 98 is retained in longitudinal position at one end by agland arrangement |20 through which the plunger |03 slides. At its other end it is retained by a plug |22 removably held by a screw |23 in a slip-on cap |2| on the end of the ller head.

The means for moving the plunger will be best appreciated from Figures 3, 12 and 18. An operating arm |24 is pivoted to the plunger |03 as best shown in Figure 3. This arm is slotted as at |25 throughout most of its length'. A pin |25 forms a fulcrum for the arm |20. This fulcrum, however, is a movable one, being mounted upon a slide |25a in a member |21. The movement of the fulcrum pin |26 in the member |21 is up and down upon the drawing as shown in Figure 3, the movement, of course, being hori- Zontal in the machine. The member |21 is also movable right and left in Figure 3, being threaded on a threaded shait |28. This shaft' is connected by gearing |20|30 (best Shown in Fig. 8) with a shaft 13| which is brought out to a hand wheel |32 Von the front of the machine. By means of this hand wheel the position of the member |21 may be varied at will.

The movement of the fulcrum pin |25` in the member |21 is limited in one direction by a bar |33 which is fastened as at |34 and |35. In the other direction, it is limited by a bar |36 which is pivoted at one end at |31. The position of the bar |36 on the pivot |31 is determined b-y a cam |38. A gear |39 is connected to this cam and meshes With a worm |40 on a shaft |4|, which again is brought out to the front of the machine and is provided with a hand wheel |42. Thus, by actuating the cam, the fulcrum pin |26 may either be fixed against the bar |33 or may be allowed a desired range of lost motion.

The right hand end of the operating arm |24 is slotted and is engaged by a pin |43. vThis pin is mounted on a carriage |44, slidable on the frame of the machine. vPins or rollers |45 and |46 on the carriage engage opposite sides of a cam |41 fixed on the shaft 41. By these means the carriage |44 is moved back and forth and the operating arm |24 is moved as a lever to actuate the plunger |03.

It will be apparent that by shifting the position of the member |21, the stroke and speed of movement of the plunger |03 can be varied. It

Will also be clear that the amount of lost motion of the fulcrum pin |26 in the member |21 can be Varied to vary the stroke of the plunger |03 Without changing its speed of movement. The stroke of the plunger will determine the amount of ller material fed through the filler spout I6. By these means, we are able not only to vary and determine the exact amount of filler material fed into each tube, but also to vary and determine the rate at which any given amount :y

of filler material shall be fed. This latter feature of control is of importance since diierent consistencies of filler material have different optimum rates of feed. Variation in the amount of filler material fed is necessary, of course, in changing from one size of collapsible tube to another.

The particular filling means which We have disclosed is applicable, of course,A to the filling of containers in general, and other than collapsible tubes, e. g., bottles, cans or the like With pasty or liquid materials.

Gauge mechanism We have incorporated into our machine a novel gauge mechanism whereby the operator can more readily adjust the volume and rate of filling to the desired values. A dial means |48 is mounted upon the face of the machine and gives at all times an indication of these values.

Considering first the control shaft |4| for lost motion in the fulcrum pin |26 (and referring to Figure 9), this shaft is connected by gearing |49 with a threaded shaft |50. An arm is threaded on the shaft. A rod |52 is fastened to the arm |5| and at one end has rack teeth meshing With the teeth of a segment |53 rotatably mounted on the shaft |4|. A pointer |54 moving over a scale |55 in the dial means is connected With the segment |53. This pointer thus gives an indication of the amount of play in the fulcrum pin.

The control shaft |3| for the position of the member |21 is likewise connected by gearing |56 with a threaded shaft |51. An arm |58 is threaded on this shaft. This arm also carries a rod |59 bearing rack teeth at one end, which teeth mesh with the teeth on a segment |60 rotatably mounted on the shaft |31. A pointer |6| attached to the segment moves over a scale |62`in the dial means. The pointer thus gives anindication of the position of the member |21.

The arm |5| has a pivotal connection as shown with a bar |63. IIhis bar is pivoted as at |64 on a fixed member |65 on the machine frame. Thus, as the arm |5| moves along its threaded shaft, the angular position of the bar |63 changes. v

The bar has its edges beveled (see Figs. 9, 10 and 11) and a stud |66 is slidably mounted on the bar by means of a rabbet |61. The stud may be moved along the bar by means of a fork |68 on the arm |58. A flanged end |63 on the stud engages in a slide on a member |10. This member is guided for sliding movement by two rods |1| and |12 attached to it. The latter of these rods bears rack teeth meshing with the teeth of a segment |13 to which a pointer |14 is attached. The pointer moves over a scale |15 in the dial means.

The movements of the pointer |14 are thus controlled, but in different Ways, by the movements of pointers |54 and |6|. Unless the stud |66 lies directly over the pivot |64, movements of thevarm 5| and bar |63 will cause movements of the pointer |14. Likewise, unless the bar |53 lies normal to the axes of rods |1| and |12, movements oi the fork |60 Will cause movements of the pointer |14.

The pointer |14 indicates the amount of material being filled into the tubes. If the shaft |4|, for example, is kept at a certain position, adjustment of the shaft |3| Will vary the quantity of material being filled. The converse of this is also true. With the mechanism shown, different rates of fill for the same quantity of material may be selected; or diierent quantities of material may be fed at the same or different rates of feed.

Having thus described our invention, What We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lling mechanism for containers, a lling head, a plunger, a slotted lever arm for said plunger and attached to it at one end,

means for reciprocating the other end of said lever arm, a carriage, a fulcrum means slidably mounted on said carriage, and means both for moving said carriage in the general direction of the length of said lever arm and for limiting the amount of movement of said fulcrum means on said carriage, whereby adjustments may be made in said mechanism for different rates of fill and different quantities of fill, substantially independently of each other.

2. In combination With mechanism as claimed in claim 1, manual operating means for said carriage and manual operating means for said fulcrum means, a'gauge having a pointer connected With each oi said manually operated means, said pointers being indicative of the rate of ll, and a pointer connected With a differential mechanism actuated by both of said manually operated means, said last mentioned pointer being indicative of the quantity of material being filled.

3. A lling device for containers, comprising a head having a filling opening, a source of lling material connected to said head, a rotary sleeve valve in said head, said sleeve valve having ports for connecting the interior thereof alternately with said source of lling material and said nlling opening in said head, means for rocking said sleeve valve, a plunger slidable within said sleeve valve, means to actuate said plunger, means to actuate said valve, a means responsive to the presence of a container to be filled, and a connection between said last mentioned means and said valve actuating means.

4. In a lling mechanism for containers, a lling head, a plunger, a slotted lever arm for said plunger and attached to it at one end, means for reciprocating the other end of said lever arm, a carriage, a fulcrum means slidably mounted on said carriage, and means both for moving said carriage in the general direction of the length of said lever arm and for limiting the amount of movement of said ulcrum means on said carriage, whereby adjustments may be made in said mechanism for diierent rates of iill and different quantities of fill, substantially independently of each other, said means for limiting the movement of said fulcrum means on said carriage being so disposed as to constrain said fulcrum to a series of positions at the end of the extreme feeding stroke of said piston such that the extreme feeding position of the piston will be at substantially the same point in said head, irrespective of the length of stroke of said piston.

5. In a lling machine, a filling means comprising a plunger operating in a cylinder, means for driving said plunger comprising motive means having a cyclical movement, and a connection between said motive means and said plunger comprising a lever having pivotal connection to each, fulcrum means for said lever, means for adjusting the position of said fulcrum in one direction, and abutment means for dening movement of said fulcrum in another direction whereby the stroke of said plunger can be caused to occupy less than the full time cycle of said cyclically moving means, whereby by means of said adjustments the rate and quantity of ll may be adjusted independently of each other.

6. The structure claimed in claim 5, including means in connection with said abutment means, for causing the lling stroke of said plunger to end at substantially the same point in said cylinder irrespective of said adjustments.

7. In a lling machine, a filling means comprising a plunger operating in a cylinder, means for driving said plunger comprising motive means having a cyclical movement, and a Connection between said motive means and said plunger comprising a lever having pivotal connection to each, fulcrum means for said lever, means for adjusting the position of said fulcrum in one direction, and abutment'means for defining movement of said fulcrum in another direction whereby the stroke of said plunger can be caused to occupy less than the full time cycle of said cyclically moving means, whereby by means of said adjustments the rate and quantity of ll may be adjusted independently of each other, and operable means in connection with both said adjustment means and located at a xed position on said machine whereby said adjustments may be made during the operation of said machine.

MERVIL HALLEAD. PAUL R. FECHHEIMER. 

